Since Friday, 22th of August, I am back at home in Sarasota. For almost three weeks I was in Munich, Germany and Graz, Austria to visit my family. I gave a couple of interviews for german newspapers, too. It´s unbelievable, how nice the summer in Europe has been this year. Even though, I spent a lot of hours in the car to get to the hospital where I continued my rehab program, I had a great time going out with friends and my sisters Sabine and Karin.
My shoulder is getting better. It hasn´t been that felxible for a long time. Still I have to build up my muscles very carefully. It needs time and patience, unfortunately.

Comeback in 2004

There were different news about my comeback in 2003, in Germany as well as in other countries. Right now, it looks like, I will be back on tour in January 2004. On one hand it´s because of my shoulder, on the other hand it has to do with my protective rangking. The protective rangking helps players, who are not able to play on tour for a minimum of 6 months.

Protective Rangking

The protective rangking gives you the chance to sign in at tournaments with your old ranking for 9 months. The ranking you had before your injury. In my case it would be the ninth spot. During the 9 months you are allowed to sign in with your old ranking at 8 tournaments. The advantage of this regulation is, that you don´t need wildcards to get into the maindraw of bigger events. Right now I´m no. 125 in the entry system. To get the old rangking back as soon as possible, it is important for me to use the protective rangking.

Point of time of my comeback

If I would play one or two tournaments in Oktober 2003 the protective ranking, the 9 months, would start. And because there are no tournaments in November and December on the ATP Tour I would lose two months. Two months without any tournament. Would that be worth it?

I know, it´s kind of difficult, but very important for my tournament schedule. You should know, that it is my dream to play on tour as soon as possible. To watch the US Open on tv in Sarasota is really strange.

Keep enjoying my website!
Take care,
Tommy

I can't wait untill januari

"Justine not yet the number 1 monday, but that’s just because you can’t measure heart with a computer" Greg Laub, September 6, 2003

So 8 tournaments within 9 months time. Tommy returned in February at San Jose, but I think he used a wildcard. In fact, I think he used a WC to get into a whole bunch of tournaments and just used his protected ranking for the two Slams and two Masters, so I think he still has 4 chances to use his protected ranking. He doesn't need it for the US Open, and he got a Wildcard for Cincy, so maybe he won't need to use it for any more tournaments if he keeps moving up the way he has been (and the Champions Race is not used to determine tournament entries, it's just used to figure out who goes to Houston at the end of the year and as a measure of how well you've been playing since January).